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User: ilsaloving

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  1. Very strange indeed! on More Troubles For Authors of Controversial Acid-Bath Stem Cell Articles · · Score: 1

    The summary answered it's own question for once!

  2. Re:Next they'll give internet explorer free on Microsoft Releases Free Edition of OneNote · · Score: 1

    You're ignoring one critical detail. In the mobile world, you have a choice. Don't like what Apple does? Buy a Samsung. Or a Blackberry. Or one of those Ubuntu phones. Apple doesn't have a stranglehold on the market. Android is now what, 3-1 for every Apple device?

    Microsoft on the other hand, utterly dominates the PC landscape, and continues to this day. That means if you don't like what Microsoft is doing, tough noogies because it's very unlikely that you can switch to something else. So they've been pulling all sorts of bullshit on people for no other reason than they know they can do whatever they want and you can't do anything about it.

    Apple has a history of being control-freaks to the point of absurdity. This isn't new, and they've never tried to hide that fact. This has been their MO since forever, and they even almost went bankrupt as a result.

    Microsoft on the other hand, has done so many heinous things that I can't even remember them all anymore. A couple off the top of my head:
    -Subverting an entire standards body just so they could get OOXML to be an 'accepted standard'
    -Forcing computer stores to sell *only* Microsoft gear, by refusing to give them product if said store tried to sell competing products

    The slightest bit of effort will land you a breathtaking amount of underhandedness they performed in order to get a complete and unshakable stranglehold on the PC market.

  3. Do nothing? on Measles Outbreak In NYC · · Score: 1

    Can't we just let the diseases spread as widely as possible? That way the problem will sort itself out....

    Too bad it is unethical to deny medical treatment to people who refused to get vaccinated.

  4. Re:Professional Email Address on Facebook Shuts Down @Facebook Email System · · Score: 1

    The effort required to set up an appropriate hosting account is still orders of magnitude more work than filling out a 5 line form.

    The point is that it demonstrates a bare minimum of technical competency, whether that is innate technical knowledge, or just being able to research a problem and following instructions. It's an unspoken interview question before anyone has even looked at your resume.

    Again, if your primary job is a window cleaner, or a plumber, or anything else non-technical, then it doesn't matter so much as long as your email address isn't "yourpornstagename@gmail.com" as someone else pointed out.

    But if you are in some kind of techncal role, and the best you can do is gmail address, it demonstrates that you are either not as skilled as you claim to be, or you simply don't care enough to eat your own dog food. Either way, I *will* hold that as a point against you, because the last thing I will do is choose to willingly work with anyone that has either of those qualities.

  5. Re:First blacks, on Apple Urges Arizona Governor To Veto Anti-Gay Legislation · · Score: 1

    YES, it is, and it's extremely offensive that you disagree.

    If there are Federal benefits or whatnot that apply to only married people, then the Federal gov't needs to have a clear policy on what is and isn't considered a legally binding marriage. If your access to Federal benefits depends on whether or not you grew up in some bass-ackward hick state, then that is discriminatory.

    If you have an issue with the federal government stomping on the toes of state government, that's one thing. To claim that argument as an excuse to deny privileges to a specific group of people is descrimination, period. It doesn't matter how you justify it to yourself. It doesn't matter what excuses you use.

    At the end of the day, you are getting something and denying that same something from someone else. That's discrimination. This is not debatable.

    If you want the feds to get out of your way, then fight to remove the benefits YOU enjoy first. THEN maybe you'll have a moral leg to stand on when you try to deny those same benfits from someone else.

  6. Re:Professional Email Address on Facebook Shuts Down @Facebook Email System · · Score: 2

    If the email is for personal use, then no, it really doesn't matter.

    If you're trying to sell yourself as a professional, then using a free email service *does* come across as unprofessional. Why? Because you can whip off a free email address in 5 minutes with no effort. You don't need to have put any thought into it beforehand, and you look like a potential fly-by-night service.

    By simple virtue of the fact that someone has their own domain names, instantly says that they are at least trying for the long haul. Or at least, there's a significantly greater chance that they are.

    Generally speaking, the harder it is to set something up speaks to how seriously a person takes said something.

  7. If they determine this to be true.... on Gut Bacteria Affect the Brain · · Score: 1

    If they determine that cognitive capability can be improved by bacteria, then it would make sense to add this to everyone's water supply.

    Based on the news I read, we desperately need it. Especially Toronto.

  8. As usual on Germany's Renewable Plan Faces Popular Resistance · · Score: -1

    As usual, people are all up and excited about something right up until they actually have to make a sacrifice of their own. Then it's all no no no no no, we can't do that!

    And then these same people have the audacity to complain that nothing ever gets done.

  9. Oblig. New Yorker post on Massive Storm Buries US East Coast In Snow and Ice · · Score: 1
  10. I've never liked that concept. Especially in situations like this where the person/organization causing the problem is doing everything they possibly can EXCEPT admit stupidity and just correct the error.

    When you do everything you can to hold your ground even when you're in the wrong, then you are malicious.

  11. Re:Parabellum on Para Bellum Labs Will Attempt To Make the RNC a Political-Analytics Player · · Score: 2

    Close, but I would add: "But we have no idea how this science stuff works! It's all spooky... all... paranormal. That's it! Parabellum!"

  12. It's their own fault on California Bill Proposes Mandatory Kill-Switch On Phones and Tablets · · Score: 1, Funny

    People who have their cell phones stolen were just asking for it. They shouldn't be flashing their bling around like some technoslut. It's not the thieves fault. They can't help themselves.

  13. Good on Sony Selling Off VAIO Computer Business · · Score: 1

    Sony has no business making computers. Or at least, they have no business doing anything beyond designing hardware. The one time I got to play with a Vaio was when a manager asked me to 'set up' their brand new machine for them.

    Long story short: The Vaio isn't a laptop. It's a marketing machine for selling other Sony products. Everywhere you turn, Sony was trying to sell you additional products, movies, music. There was so much crapware on that machine that it ran embarrassingly poorly, and the only option was to use the recovery disks to reinstall *just* the OS and the drivers. The only saving grace was that the 'additional applications' was a separate disk, so I was able to skip that part.

    The machine ran very nicely after that. But an average person isn't going to know to do all this. I was personally offended that a supposedly reputable company would inflict this kind of trash on people. Turned me right off of the brand, despite the hardware being very nice.

    Of course, my outrage then was nothing compared to when I learned Sony was putting rootkits on their music CDs, removing features from their PS2s, etc.

    Hopefully this new company can repair the crater that Sony made of their PC business.

  14. Emo Philips on Federal Agency Data-Mining Hundreds of Millions of Credit Card Accounts · · Score: 2

    'Would you object to getting permission from consumers, those people who you work for, before you collect and monitor their information?' Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., asked Cordray. 'That would make it impossible to get the data,' Cordray replied."

    He could have quoted Emo Philips...

    "When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me."

  15. Re:One reason why I'm giving up on Android on Why Does Facebook Need To Read My Text Messages? · · Score: 1

    So... what you're saying is that I have to root my device and install a third party tool in order to get something I expect to have gotten out of the box.

    Thank you for pointing this out as an option, but it doesn't change the core issue. Especially for people who are unable or unwilling to root their devices.

  16. Re:One reason why I'm giving up on Android on Why Does Facebook Need To Read My Text Messages? · · Score: 1

    That's just it... There IS NO alternative. It's Android, iOS, with WinPhone bringing up the rear.

    FirefoxOS and UbuntuPhone still amount to little more than a curiosity for developers. Until a mature, FOSS platform becomes available, all you can do is make the best out of a bad situation.

    I used to believe the same thing as you. When I had an iPhone, I was chomping at the bit because of my lack of control. But then I got a Samsung Galaxy S3. You know what my priority is now? Something that *works*. I'm still incredulous that the flagship phone from a major company can be such a steaming pile of crap. I had to root my phone just to remove the crapware Samsung put on. It's one thing to root and hack up a device because you want more control. It's another thing entirely when you HAVE to root and hack up a device, because out of the box the thing isn't even fit for purpose.

    Google is doing everything they can to make it abundantly clear that they are giving you cheap devices solely so that they can mine the crap out of you. Microsoft's history of viciously destructive behaviour makes me write them off without even evaluating their device. Apple are a bunch of control freaks, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Especially when you consider the fact that you can't trust all programmers out there to write apps that behave properly.

    The fact is, a phone isn't a random gadget that one plays around with. It's a lifeline to the world, especially for many who give up their land lines. If there's one personal device one can own that HAS to work, it's your phone. Period. (Well, I suppose someone with a CPAP machine would argue differently...) But you get my point.

    I will be delighted in giving UbuntuPhone or FirefoxOS (or Meego, or whatever) a try once they've proven themselves to be functional and reliable. Until then, I'm just going to have to stick with iOS.

  17. One reason why I'm giving up on Android on Why Does Facebook Need To Read My Text Messages? · · Score: 2

    When I was deciding on a tablet, I was waffling on what to get but the issue of privacy ended up being the thing that decided me.

    With Android, you have no choice but to accept the permissions that an app insists on. Either that, or don't use the app. Combine that with Google stating outright that they plan on *reducing* privacy protections, I wasn't happy.

    Then I researched the privacy protections in iOS. You have the ability to selectively deny or allow what an application is allowed to see, and can change your choice later on if you change your mind. Say what you will about Apple, but at least they're making a decent effort in this regard.

  18. "Now robot..." on The Changing Face of Robotics · · Score: 2

    Now Mr Robot, this is what I want you to do. When the boss comes by, I want you to lift up both arms like this, now extend your middle actuators and shout, "Blow it out your tailpipe!"

  19. Re:Hilarious on Thousands of Gas Leaks Discovered Under Streets of Washington DC · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Riiiiiiight. And it has nothing at all to do with big businesses doing everything they can to hoard profits, and idiot apologists like you that think that there is nothing wrong with that fact.

    Electricity was deregulated in California. What happened? Prices shot up, service deteriorated. Do I need to mention Enron?

    How many times have you opened up the paper to see stories about companies laying off thousands of workers, not because the business is losing money, but because they arn't making *enough profit*. There is no such things as an honest public company as long as they are required by law to put their investors above all others. The sheer number of examples is virtually limitless.

    If Washington Gas (for example) was such a benevolent little angel, why did they have to be *ordered* by the commission to upgrade pipes? How many times has there been a massive ecological disaster because an oil company was too cheap to implement basic precautions?

    So spare me your bullshit. Libertarian is synonymous with "I've got mine, fuck you!", for good reason, whether you like it or not.

  20. Hilarious on Thousands of Gas Leaks Discovered Under Streets of Washington DC · · Score: 1

    I find it hilarious and sad that a libertarian can't understand that gas companies are doing everything they can to ignore and deflect problems that will cost them large sums of money to fix.

    If he wants the problems fix, maybe he should fix it himself.

  21. I think I'm missing something... on Apple, Amazon, Microsoft & More Settle Lawsuits With Boston University · · Score: 1

    I thought that if you don't assert your patent from day one, then you can't cry foul later on. How long have they been sitting on this thing, only to turn around and start suing everyone after the process became wide spread.

    While BU may be on better ground, and may put the money to better use than some scum sucking patent troll, it still strikes me as trollish behaviour.

  22. Re:It's about time! on Man Shot To Death For Texting During Movie · · Score: 1

    Looks like I've been modded by a Zimmerman supporter.

  23. Comparisons? on Media Player Nightingale Reaches 1.12.1; First Release Since Songbird · · Score: 1

    How does it compare to other players?
    The most obvious one is VLC, which can play any format known to man, and is also cross platform. The only issue is that the UI isn't as clean because it is so powerful.
    As I primarily using a Mac, I personally like to use Vox for audio, and Movist for video, for a variety of reasons (most of which boil down to 'I happen to like the way it does X or Y')

    As a computer geek I'm happy that there's another option out there, especially an open source one.

    But from an end user perspective, I have to ask things like, "What's special about it?" and "What does it give me that I can't do already?"

  24. Re:It's about time! on Man Shot To Death For Texting During Movie · · Score: 0

    It is if the texter was black, in florida. :P

  25. Re: I can see on Rise of the Super-High-Res Notebook Display · · Score: 1

    Maybe you should have stuck to using just one hand? :)